By 2019, more than eight in 10 high school graduates had taken at least one career and technical education course, according to national data reported in a District Administration article.
“You don’t have to go to college to make a good living,” says Poteau High School (OK) Principal Joe Ballard. “The kids who go through these programs, a lot of them will make more money than I will, without college debt and time wasted taking classes they’re not interested in.”
Each year he sends more than 100 students through Kiamichi Technology Centers. They spend half of their school day exploring career paths that meet local workforce needs.
There are 25 full-time programs available at Kiamichi, including:
- Biomedical sciences and medicine
- Computer information technology
- Cosmetology
- Criminal justice
- Pre-engineering
- Teacher prep/early care and education
Short-term courses include Electrical Lineman Training, Effective Communication and Intro to AI, as well as several specialized trainings like Workforce and Economic Development, a police officer training academy, truck driver training and more.
New Oklahoma state legislation is helping to drive demand. Oklahoma’s graduation requirements now allow students to earn math or science credits for completing courses at Kiamichi.
“A lot more students were interested in taking a career and tech ed program, but some of those graduation requirements in the past were holding them back,” says Michael Culwell, Kiamichi’s career tech director.
Culwell is on the board of directors for the Oklahoma Association of Career and Technical Education. Six years ago, he created the career specialist position to work in fifth through eighth grade in partner schools to help students begin exploring trade-oriented careers.
Developing awareness of the potential in trade jobs early on is important. “By the time (students) get to high school, they know our faces. They know the (Kiamichi) campus,” Culwell says.
Meet face-to-face with your district’s career tech centers to create opportunities for students, Ballard emphasizes.
“Get out and talk to your local career techs and build those relationships from the ground up,” he says.
District Administration
